Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft was one of the most shocking storylines of the weekend. Once projected as a potential first- or second-rounder thanks to his impressive production at Colorado, his slide raised a lot of eyebrows—especially given the pre-draft hype and reported interest from multiple quarterback-needy teams.
What makes it even more surprising is that Sanders put up solid numbers in college, showed maturity as a pocket passer, and played under intense scrutiny due to both his talent and his last name. The drop likely came down to a mix of concerns about how his skills would translate to the NFL level, the depth of this year’s quarterback class, and possibly even pre-draft interviews or workouts that didn’t go as hoped.
The Cleveland Browns may have ended up with one of the biggest steals of the draft. Sanders now has a chance to develop behind Deshaun Watson with significantly lower expectations, which might be the best-case scenario for his long-term growth.
You’re right—nothing is off the table in the NFL, especially when it comes to quarterback movement. While Shedeur Sanders just landed in Cleveland, a trade isn’t out of the question if the Browns decide he’s not in their long-term plans or if another team—like Detroit—makes an aggressive offer.
The Lions make for an intriguing suitor. Jared Goff is entrenched as the starter after his extension, but they could use a more dynamic long-term backup or developmental option behind him. Hendon Hooker hasn’t shown much yet, and Sanders could give them a different flavor—more mobility, a strong arm, and a high football IQ.
That said, for Cleveland to consider moving Sanders so soon, they’d need a compelling offer or reason—like Sanders pushing for a move or the Lions offering a player/pick combination that fits an immediate need. It’s a stretch, but not a wild one.
